Changeable sign



April 28, 1931. w. LITTLE CHANGEABLE SIGN Filed Dec. 17K, 1928 GGG?) vwemtor Patented Apr. 28, 1931 UNITED STATES CHANGrim;@jep

Application mea December 17; 192s: seria-rnv. 326,437.-

The main object of this invention is to provide a` menu card. in which the characters scribed-thereon may be changed from day to day in a convenient manner without replacement of any of the parts of the card.

Another object of this invention is to provide a menu card consisting of a hollow frame in which a plurality of spindles havingpulleys thereon are mounted, the pulleys'having curtains trained about them, and these curtains are provided with sets of characters, one of which is adapted to be exposed through a slot in the panel of the device. Y

The above and other objects will become apparent in the description below, in Vwhich characters of reference refer to like-named parts in the drawing.

Referring briefly to the drawing, Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the menu with the panel removed to expose the operating mechanism therefor.

Figure 2 is a cross sectional elevational view of the same.

Figure 3 is an external view of Vthe menu card.

Figure 4 is an end elevational view of the same.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the numerals 10 and 11 indicate the sides of an open frame. These sides are joined by end pieces 12 and 13. Both sides of this frame are covered, the reverseeside being covered by a board 14 which is hinged to the frameV piece 13, and the front is closed by a frame member 15 in a recess portion of which a panel 16, of some suitable material such as celluloid, is mounted. This celluloid panel has a permanent character, such as Menu and other necessary information, printed 4 thereon and is also provided with a plurality of horizontal slots 17 and vertical slots 18. The frame 15 is hingedly connected to the frame member 13 as illustrated in Figure 2. This entire structure may be mounted on some sort of a pedestal which is not shown on the drawing. The side pieces 10 and 11, which form the frame, are provided with a plurality of spaced-apart openings 19. Into.. these openings the ends of spindles 20, 21, 22, 23 and 24 are inserted and are adapted to be freely;v rotatabley therein.V The:y ends Ofi" the spindles;arevprovidedrwiith triangular $06k.- r ets 25 Wl1ichare adaptedjtoreeeivethe: end of a key of similar conformation when it'. is desired to rotate said spindle. rlllleplllper spindle-20,.anditssadacentione 'are proiridedfwithg'drums26 and:V 2.7:.Y These vdil-`1llf11s have .an endless curtain 28 trained theneabolit- 'lihsfcmtainsadaptedtahavethe,characters Breakfast, Luncheon-Z; *thinned* G0 Supper inscribed-1 thereon seriesg lille spindle`21, rin addition 'to the, 27.', has

three: additionali drumsf, 236i andi 3.1. m9111113@ thereon) which are. lessenualengh. thanlh 'l drurrr i The: next. Successive Spindle 2.2 .5- hasfem-drumsmcuntedthereonabolitwhich curtains 32,; 33; and 34, are. trained. These curtains; are. suspended within the, trame pieces and' are, trained ebOlt 211%: their opposite endscn thel spindle Der# 7.0 1'r0w -curtains.'35,Y auda the tains 33 and 34 while the cuntlajnrpgssejs .under the curtain ,32 `sa that-nc) para et .the areaof'he militaire is concealed by the narrow curtain 37. These curtains 37, 35 and '(5. 36 and 38v at their lower ends are trained about the lowermost spindle 24. In addition Y to these curtains mentioned two rigidly fixed curtains 39 and 40 are located in the frame.V These two latter curtains are rigidly mounted in place and are immovable, being suspended from a yoke'41. y

. When the panel 16 in the hinged framel iS aiixed in place over the` front ofthe main frame inv which the mechanism is located, ,a5 characters will be exposed through the slots i 17 and 18. The characters exposed through, the slots 18 are permanent and indicate such foods as are termed Special or the like. The y characters on the curtains 34, 32 and 33 are in 9,9 a prearranged group, as the characters which appear through one slot are changed the characters in all the successive vslots in the same roware likewise'changed, thereby `requiring that the characters be changed in groups. As a key, having a triangular end,

or taken up inv thereverse direction... The

vis inserted into the sockets 25 of they ends of narrow curtains 36, 38 and 35 are adapted to carry the prices of the commodities mentioned on the larger curtains 32, 33 and 34, are located upon these larger curtains, and at the right-hand side thereof, and are independent of the larger curtains. It may be desired that door panels such as indicated by the numeral l5 are to be-used on-both faces of the frame. When such is the case, some 0f.

the curtains must have an exposed surface on both sides Within the chamber of the frame. The curtains such as indicated by the numeral 37 are adapted to face and be visible thru the apertures 17 in the panel on the reverse face of the frame.v

It is to be noted that certain changes in form and construction may be vmade Without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention.Vv K i Iclain1:- 1 v A In aldevice ofthe class described, askeleton frame, aV panelk covering said skeleton Aframe and havingy slots' therein, endless curtains mounted in said' skeleton frame, spindles rotatable in. said frame, drums rigid on said spindles having said: curtains trainedY thereabout, yokes rigidly mounted in said frame having said curtains suspended therefrom,

said spindles being rotatably anchored in said frame, and triangular socketsY in the ends of said spindles'adapted to be exposed and receive a key forrotating said spindles l Asome of said curtains being deflected by an ady vjacent curtain to permit complete exposure i of one side of the iadjacentfcurtain and partial exposure of the opposite-side'of theadjacent curtain;

- In testimony-whereof I aflixrmy signature.

y 'v v WILLIAM LITTLE., 

